Caught a limit on Ky Lake, Sugar Bay

I fished yesterday (Monday) on KY Lake and caught a really nice limit, plus 4 or 5short fish. Had 4 fish over 2 lbs with the biggest at 2.4. The rest were really nice size. Started out trolling the mouth of Ledbetter at Kenlake catching fish at 21 to 23 feet deep in 24 FOW. Left there with 7 fish, including the biggest of the day. Moved to the mouth of Sugar Bay and caught the rest in 20 to 22 ft of water fishing 16- 18 ft deep. Caught them all spider-rigging, and once again using 1/8 and 1/4 oz orange or red- headed jigs with the panfish assassin bodies in the color I call "lemondrop", cause that's what they remind me of.....lemon drop candy. All jigs were tipped with minnows. And honestly, the 1/4 oz heads caught more fish than the 1/8 oz. I started at 8:30 and quit at 3:00pm. It was a good day to be on the water.

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Originally Posted by kyfishman

I fished yesterday (Monday) on KY Lake and caught a really nice limit, plus 4 or 5short fish. Had 4 fish over 2 lbs with the biggest at 2.4. The rest were really nice size. Started out trolling the mouth of Ledbetter at Kenlake catching fish at 21 to 23 feet deep in 24 FOW. Left there with 7 fish, including the biggest of the day. Moved to the mouth of Sugar Bay and caught the rest in 20 to 22 ft of water fishing 16- 18 ft deep. Caught them all spider-rigging, and once again using 1/8 and 1/4 oz orange or red- headed jigs with the panfish assassin bodies in the color I call "lemondrop", cause that's what they remind me of.....lemon drop candy. All jigs were tipped with minnows. And honestly, the 1/4 oz heads caught more fish than the 1/8 oz. I started at 8:30 and quit at 3:00pm. It was a good day to be on the water.

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I'm bet'n most all were whites. Am I right?

THe four biggest fish were all white, but the rest were a mix of about half white and half black. I've been catching black crappie in the deeper water, but they will always be a little higher in the water column....say if I'm catching fish 20 ft deep in 24 ft of water, I'll also catch black crappie at about 17-18 ft at the same depth. If I'm trolling in water deeper than around 16 ft, I usually run two jigs per line, and the blacks usually hit the top jig without exception.

I know as a rule black crappie tend to hang in shallow water better than whites, but that's not always the case. A friend of mine, just a couple of days ago, caught a huge bunch of crappie up past Country Junction at Big Sandy in 6 and 7 ft of water fishing about 3 ft deep.....and they were nearly all white.

If I may ask a question sir, but why would you post the exact bay and lake where you caught your fish!?!

Did you put in at Smith Bay? Did the wind blow you out of the mouth? It blew us off the mouth of the bay we were fishing. Curious minds would like to know.........

Why would I post the lake and place I'm catching fish? Because....unlike a lot of fishermen, I don't mind sharing where I catch fish. I've been doing that for years. I get a great deal of satisfaction helping other people catch fish. I've fished Kentucky Lake, both the Tennessee portion and the Kentucky portion, as well as Reelfoot Lake, all my life. I've spent a lifetime (I'm 58) chasing after crappie, fishing crappie tournaments all over the southeast and midwest, and teaching fishing classes. Heck, I've even guided a bit on both Kentucky and Reelfoot lakes. If you see me on the lake, pull up beside me and I'll tell you what I'm catching, what they are biting on and how deep. I'll even suggest a place or two where you might try. Of course, I'll expect you to do the same. That's just the kind of fisherman I am. I figure there's enough fish to go around for everybody and the more people I can get interested in fishing, the better it is for the state of Kentucky...cause Lord knows, we need the revenue.

Why, just the other day I was fishing on the lake when I ran into Whiskers and he told the guy in the boat with him that I'm the fellow that cost him $30,000.....(new boat, truck and trolling equipment) cause I had a big part to play in getting him started trolling. Hey Whiskers, hope you're wearing them out!

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Originally Posted by kyfishman

Why would I post the lake and place I'm catching fish? Because....unlike a lot of fishermen, I don't mind sharing where I catch fish. I've been doing that for years. I get a great deal of satisfaction helping other people catch fish. I've fished Kentucky Lake, both the Tennessee portion and the Kentucky portion, as well as Reelfoot Lake, all my life. I've spent a lifetime (I'm 58) chasing after crappie, fishing crappie tournaments all over the southeast and midwest, and teaching fishing classes. Heck, I've even guided a bit on both Kentucky and Reelfoot lakes. If you see me on the lake, pull up beside me and I'll tell you what I'm catching, what they are biting on and how deep. I'll even suggest a place or two where you might try. Of course, I'll expect you to do the same. That's just the kind of fisherman I am. I figure there's enough fish to go around for everybody and the more people I can get interested in fishing, the better it is for the state of Kentucky...cause Lord knows, we need the revenue.

Why, just the other day I was fishing on the lake when I ran into Whiskers and he told the guy in the boat with him that I'm the fellow that cost him $30,000.....(new boat, truck and trolling equipment) cause I had a big part to play in getting him started trolling. Hey Whiskers, hope you're wearing them out!

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That is what this sight is all about! The enjoyment of helping others do as well as you do. And comrodery. Thanks kyfishman

Just a bit of insight to where bandchaser is coming from. Duck hunters have figured this out but it is probably a bit slow to show up for fishing.

Internet scouting for game and fish information is on a whole different level than just asking a random boater or bait shop customer where that they can go to catch fish. Instead of telling one, you just told thousands of anonymous people where to go... potentially where another member has been sinking stake beds that you found accidentally. You do not have to be a member of this website to see this information.

The internet is good for a lot of things but keeping your hunting and fishing spots productive is not one of them.

Most times the heart is in the right place but the consequences can be less than desirable. I applaud you for trying to help people out but I hate to see anyone get their spots invaded by the anonymous internet horde.

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Originally Posted by kyfishman

Why would I post the lake and place I'm catching fish? Because....unlike a lot of fishermen, I don't mind sharing where I catch fish. I've been doing that for years. I get a great deal of satisfaction helping other people catch fish. I've fished Kentucky Lake, both the Tennessee portion and the Kentucky portion, as well as Reelfoot Lake, all my life. I've spent a lifetime (I'm 58) chasing after crappie, fishing crappie tournaments all over the southeast and midwest, and teaching fishing classes. Heck, I've even guided a bit on both Kentucky and Reelfoot lakes. If you see me on the lake, pull up beside me and I'll tell you what I'm catching, what they are biting on and how deep. I'll even suggest a place or two where you might try. Of course, I'll expect you to do the same. That's just the kind of fisherman I am. I figure there's enough fish to go around for everybody and the more people I can get interested in fishing, the better it is for the state of Kentucky...cause Lord knows, we need the revenue.

Why, just the other day I was fishing on the lake when I ran into Whiskers and he told the guy in the boat with him that I'm the fellow that cost him $30,000.....(new boat, truck and trolling equipment) cause I had a big part to play in getting him started trolling. Hey Whiskers, hope you're wearing them out!

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You are the 1 that inspired me to start spider rig'n. I fished that bay with my Granddaddy for years and always wondered what those guys were do'n out there.

Because of that day I have met some great folks and many of them have become good friends. Can't put a price tag on friends.

I pulled up to you that day and you finished off a 30 fish limit while I was talk'n to ya. You told me how to rig, how deep you were fish'n, how fast, what color, etc... Answered every question I had and for that I thank you.

I try to "pay it forward" and help others, as you did me. I'd like to think I've helped put a smile on a face or two.

With that said... If my wife ever gets hold of ya... OMG!!! $30,000 is a very conservative number! That does not take in consideration all the electronics, gas, bait, line, jigs, etc... My wife can't retire cause she has to help support my habit. :D

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Originally Posted by Quackrstackr

Just a bit of insight to where bandchaser is coming from. Duck hunters have figured this out but it is probably a bit slow to show up for fishing.

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Most know. Some still don't believe us when we tell them.

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Originally Posted by Quackrstackr

You do not have to be a member of this website to see this information.

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And that is what can burn you. Less scrupulous folks who generally don't play by the rules, are not ethical, and do not want to pass it on for the right reasons.

Congrats on the good catch. I hope to make it over that way to get on some fishing when they move on up closer to the banks. As I am set up now the spider rigging is out and finding brush is tough if you don't get to KY but once or twice a year.

Wiskers just think , your on a boat workin for who knows how long , you get of go home get out the boat go back fishin , IM surprised your wife don't put a knot on your head every now and then . LOL And as far as telling people where you caught fish look at the boats most times it really isn't a secret. I'm from ohio and only get to come down there once a year with my brother and son , trips are enjoyable but when you can catch fish thets a real memory for us .I just like to say thanks to the guys I have talked to down there , not all locals but have not had a bad excperience yet.

Folks will learn the hard way. All the work they put into brushpiles and beds. Then reaping those benefits, and posting it for the whole world to read. They will return to their "honey hole", and it will be empty for several trips to come.

Its great to hear your excitement and the story. But If I killed a very nice gobbler or buck, and gave the internet the coordinates and location of where it was killed, do you think I would have company on my next visit??????

Thanks quacker for the back up!

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Originally Posted by smashdn

Most know. Some still don't believe us when we tell them.



And that is what can burn you. Less scrupulous folks who generally don't play by the rules, are not ethical, and do not want to pass it on for the right reasons.

Congrats on the good catch. I hope to make it over that way to get on some fishing when they move on up closer to the banks. As I am set up now the spider rigging is out and finding brush is tough if you don't get to KY but once or twice a year.

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thanks kyfishman

Its not often someone will help others out. You did it right though, you didnt give out the EXACT location, you gave a part of the lake. Thanks and good luck.

Let me throw my $.02 in here. I have been hurt by internet scouters and those who would give out too much info accidentally or on purpose in both fishing and waterfowling. General info is one thing but many want to go too far.

Several years ago, I was fishing lots of bass tournaments and had learned deep water bassin from some of the best in GA. When I moved back to KY Lake, I was approached by a friend of a friend to show him some deep water tactics. When we met the first time to fish, he told me up front his rules;

1. You don't show ANYBODY my spots.
2. If I pull up on one of my spots and you are fishing it, you are expected to leave.
3. You don't tell anybody about my spots.

I thought the guy was pretty anal but said hey, it goes both ways. We fished together a few times and I ended up showing him more of my spots than I ever learned about his. I had found a mid-lake roadbed intersection that I had never seen another boat fish. I took this guy there a couple of times and we actually we able to catch a couple of limits using my GA techniques that I taught him. This was in the days of 12 inch minimum on bass and I had caught as many as 16 12+ inch bass on consecutive casts from it (releasing them). The largest I ever caught off it was about 5 pounds.

All of a sudden I started finding boats on this spot when I would go there. Some times I would wait till they left, move in and catch fish and leave, other times not catching any. This puzzled me since I had fished it for nearly a year with zero competition (never in a tournament). One day I saw a boat on it and moved in closer to see if I recognized the boat or occupants. There were 3 guys in the Ranger (not his boat) and one of them was the guy who had read me the riot-act about HIS spots. I had a very unique color combination Skeeter Starfire and I KNEW the guy knew it was me. I got close enough to carry on a conversation and he turned to me, put his hands on his hips and stared me down till I left, never saying a word to me! The mystery was solved! Seems he had been getting anybody who would take his sorry leech azz fishing to the roadbed. Needless to say, he never set foot in my boat again but it did give me a new view on telling folks about your good spots and how respect goes both ways.

I think I may have conveyed this story to wiskers in a phone conversation we had. I'll try to help anyone I can but I just try to keep my cards close to the vest when it comes to internet scouters.

I would like to share my experience with a certain person on this board. A couple years ago, my son and I planned an early Spring trip to KY Lake for some Crappie fishing (we are from Central IL). I started chatting with some folks on this board and quickly found a few that were helpful with tactics, but one was more helpful. All I had at the time was a plain Eagle fishfinder and a hand-held GPS. I was asking about tips on locating fish easier as it was a new lake and so much area to cover. This person (I will not name him because I don't want people to hound him) is a guide on KY Lake. He gave me 6 or 7 GPS coordinates in the general area of where we were staying. We hit those spots and found several of our own. The only thing that he didn't help with was the weather. It was a record cold front that came thru and the fishing sucked for over a week. When we got home, he PM'd me to ask about our trip and I shared our plight. He actually apologized! Like he could have fixed the weather. He is one of the most stand-up guys on here! There are people out there that will abuse this type of assistance like there are people that will pull right up on you when you are catching fish! Nothing you can do about it. I want to say thanks to many of you that have helped me be a better fisherman because of the tips you have shared from type of line to different jigs, etc. I won't name names, but most know who I am talking about. You guys are what makes a board like this enjoyable!!!:D

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Originally Posted by bandchaser

Folks will learn the hard way. All the work they put into brushpiles and beds. Then reaping those benefits, and posting it for the whole world to read. They will return to their "honey hole", and it will be empty for several trips to come.

Its great to hear your excitement and the story. But If I killed a very nice gobbler or buck, and gave the internet the coordinates and location of where it was killed, do you think I would have company on my next visit??????

Thanks quacker for the back up!

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I understand what you are saying but here's the thing. While I know the work that goes into piles and beds, unless it is a private lake, people are going to find, fish, and share them. The hard work doesn't make them yours exclusively! As for the Buck and Gobbler reference, don't you usually hunt on private property? That makes it a whole different story.

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Originally Posted by JTMavs

The hard work doesn't make them yours exclusively!

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It shouldn't make them instantly available to 10,000 people looking on the internet for a place to fish tomorrow just because you stumbled across them today, either. ;)

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Originally Posted by JTMavs

As for the Buck and Gobbler reference, don't you usually hunt on private property? That makes it a whole different story.

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You hang around hunting forums very long and you will see that the internet is full of people that don't think a thing about trespassing on your property or running in and leasing ground out from under you. ;)

Like I said earlier, this whole internet thing is old hat for those of us that hunt. You guys will learn soon enough that it applies to fishing as well.

Quakr - You are surely one of the guys on here that I have the utmost respect for! I agree, if you put coordinates on the internet, people are going to abuse them. But this thread started telling people of the general areas and depths he was fishing. That is just being helpful. I surely wouldn't work my butt off and spend lots of $ making brushpiles/beds and announce where I put them! Just know people will find them.

I like to help people out myself, but only with general information like depth, color, method, rigging,etc. - however I can. No specifics on location, just general areas. There's a lot of difference between coord's and a 1000ac. creek. The worst thing is telling about a spot we fish together that came from one of my contacts. That is a no-no. If someone shares some spot-on info and specific location with me, it stays with me. I won't take anyone with me that bumps their gums too much. BTW, I duckhunt too - lesson learned on both fronts.

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Originally Posted by Quackrstackr

Like I said earlier, this whole internet thing is old hat for those of us that hunt. You guys will learn soon enough that it applies to fishing as well.

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Dang.....I feel like I am slow or need special training for internet forums now. Didn't realize that fishermen were this slow?:confused:

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Originally Posted by kyfishman

I fished yesterday (Monday) on KY Lake and caught a really nice limit, plus 4 or 5short fish. FOW. Moved to the mouth of Sugar Bay and caught the rest in 20 to 22 ft of water fishing 16- 18 ft deep.

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Anybody with decent electronics can find this. THIS is what I am referring too. The rest of the information is great! I would share which lake, north, central or south. The color and presentation. But to share the bay and location, yet basic, will have the internet scouters drooling!

We are not trying to be difficult, but educate you. And the comment about private property, what about public land? And there many, many people that tresspass in this day and age, so don't think your honey hole is safe because your on private land.

Go to KY DNR site and look at the last months articles for the poacher in Livingston and Crittenton Counties. 36 counts, 32 bucks and 4 gobblers illegally harvested. This was also partially done on our farm and our deer numbers have suffered.

I am not mad with anyone here, so don't take it that way. Just remember that the internet is world wide. And any info you share can and will be picked up by anyone that wishes to view and use.

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Originally Posted by dkb23

Dang.....I feel like I am slow or need special training for internet forums now. Didn't realize that fishermen were this slow?:confused:

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Simply a matter of exposure and has nothing to do with anyone's personal capacities. More specifically, the internet scouting part of it.

Fishing sites traditionally haven't had the kind of traffic that hunting sites have but they are getting more popular every day.

Case in point would be guys from IL looking in the KY forum to see where the fish are biting on KY Lake. Now if you guys (and a hundred others) were to drive in tomorrow, don't you think that you would probably be tempted to head straight to one of these locations that have been given on here? Imagine the traffic jam at the mouth of Sugar Bay or Ledbetter that would probably ensue. :D

If I come down from L without getting on here, it wouldn't take long to see where people are catchingt fish. Just go to where all the boats are! Not real hard to fiure out. One thing everyone needs to get used to is what Side Imaging has done to/for fishing. Honey holes won't e secret for long!!!

I don't think it is fair to compare your bass fishing troubles to crappie fishing. Two complete different attitudes and actions when it comes to fishing. Seems to me that you have a different opinion than I do....and that is ok......but my case in point is just like that brush pile or road bed that you fished and thought that it was your spot.....it is not. Just like KY lake is not your lake. It is everyones lake. We live in the USA....let's not forget. If I pay for the $50 out of state lisc. then I have the same rights as you do there. I agree with JTMavs.....fishing has changed with the electronic additions and even though fishermen are a little slow they can figure it out pretty fast.

I appreciate reports as much as the next guy and to an extent, I offer accurate reports when I have them. But we have to remember, we're all fishermen here. And we don't ALWAYS tell the whole truth. ;)

In the case of large bodies of water like KY Lake, I don't think it hurts to tell what bay you had success in. I will go so far as to say that you can report fish in 20 feet of water in such and such bay, and most of those anglers won't have as good a day as you because they don't know *how* to establish a pattern, nor do they know crappie biology and crappie behavior.

Where is Canepole? He usually weighs in on this stuff...I want to know what he has to say. He will help You anyway he can...We all can't fish everyday..Some people only get to fish a few times a year and helping them is a "good" thing. General area and depths help a lot to get You "started" fishing if You have a short time to fish.

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Originally Posted by bandchaser

Go to KY DNR site and look at the last months articles for the poacher in Livingston and Crittenton Counties. 36 counts, 32 bucks and 4 gobblers illegally harvested. This was also partially done on our farm and our deer numbers have suffered.

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That guy was wear'n our lease out too. He's been do'n it for years. Just finally got caught. All the farmers around there new it but wouldn't say anything cause they were glad to get rid of the deer.

I hope they take everything he's got!

He didn't find out about that area on the net either! Local boy.

Well, I never thought a little fishing report would generate this much discussion, but I'm glad it did. I've been reading with interest and can see validity to both sides. As a fisherman who has built many brushpiles and stakebeds on both Barkley and Kentucky Lakes over the years, I've realized each time I put one in that anybody who finds that brush or stakebed has the right to fish it. And granted, many's the time I've come upon one of my spots only to find another boat already there. I can't recall ever cussing at them, fussing at them or asking them to leave. I have, on occasion, pulled up and asked them if they are having any luck....and even told a few grumpy folks that I was the one who had put that fish attractor in the water. Then, I went on my way and found me another place to fish.....glad that I had helped someone have a good day fishing. I know lots of guys who work hard to build places to fish don't feel that way, and I understand that. And I guess "to each his own".

Now...I would never post exact coordinates of a productive brushpile or the exact location of where I've been catching fish on the internet. But heavens, fellows...with the technology available today on most fishing boats...(and its increasing and getting better every few days it seems) there is no such thing as a "SECRET" brushpile or stakebed.

I will fish for crappie every kind of way possible that's legal...and am always looking for new techniques and ideas....but 90% of the time I fish I am slow-trolling of spiderrigging. I've discovered that you can catch fish nearly year round that way.....and probably 95% of the crappie tournaments fished --in the South and Midwest at least---or won by slow trolling. So...I don't have any trouble telling somebody what bay I'm fishing in, how deep the water is...and how deep I'm catching fish. Nor will I have a problem with telling them what I'm using to catch the fish. SO guys....if you ever see me on the water and want to talk fishing, just pull up close and say hello.

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Originally Posted by dkb23

I don't think it is fair to compare your bass fishing troubles to crappie fishing. Two complete different attitudes and actions when it comes to fishing. Seems to me that you have a different opinion than I do....and that is ok......but my case in point is just like that brush pile or road bed that you fished and thought that it was your spot.....it is not. Just like KY lake is not your lake. It is everyones lake. We live in the USA....let's not forget. If I pay for the $50 out of state lisc. then I have the same rights as you do there. I agree with JTMavs.....fishing has changed with the electronic additions and even though fishermen are a little slow they can figure it out pretty fast.

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Obviously my intent of my post went right over your head. It had nothing to do with fishing but everything to do with trust and keeping ones word. I never claimed the roadbed as MY spot. It was a spot I had found, was catching good numbers of fish off of and didn't want the whole world to know about. The fellow the post was about had different ideas and his own agenda. I never confronted anybody who was fishing the spot, just like I won't confront you if I find you fishing one of the hundreds of brushpiles and stake buckets I have placed in the lake. They were placed there for everyone's benefit. If someone wants a confrontation, all they have to do is run all over me while I'm fishing one of the many structures that I have found or placed in the lake. I'm not talking about just getting close, close is not a problem. I have actually had boats come into contact with mine and lines tangled up with mine while I was spider-rigging or jigging. This has happened many times, most of the times by persons who have registrations on their boats that are not local to KY/ Barkley. Courtesy goes both ways! Just because somebody has just a few days to fish these lakes doesn't mean they have to leave manners at home. I would feel the exact same way if it was me fishing a lake local to your area. I try to treat folks the way I would like to be treated. It seems to make the world a nicer place.

Point taken. You are right. I misunderstood your intent. My appologies.

i didnt catch a crappie at all last sat,at sugar bay,was tightlining minnows and jigs,yellow bass and a bluegill